A comparative study of Organic

vs Inorganic Fertilizers
BY RIYA LODH
ABSTRACT
Plant nutrients are essential for the
production of crops and healthy food
for the world’s expanding population.
Plant nutrients are therefore a vital
component of sustainable agriculture.
Increased crop production largely
relies on the type of fertilizers used to
supplement essential nutrients for
plants..
Cont.
 The nature and the characteristics of
nutrient release of chemical, organic and
biofertilizers are different, and each type
of fertilizer has its advantages and
disadvantages with regard to crop growth
and soil fertility. The sound management of
fertilization must attempt to ensure both
an enhanced and safeguarded environment;
therefore, a balanced fertilization strategy
that combines the use of chemical, organic
or biofertilizers must be developed and
evaluated.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING
INORGANIC AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR CROP
GROWTH AND SOIL FERTILITY
 Among the materials used in agriculture,
fertilizer is the most widely used. Based on the
production process, it can be roughly categorized
into three types: chemical, organic and
biofertilizer. Each type of fertilizer has its
advantages and disadvantages. These advantages
need to be integrated in order to achieve
optimum performance by each type of fertilizer
and to realize balanced nutrient management for
crop growth.
Inorganic Fertilizers

Inorganic chemical that

promotes plant growth by
enhacing the supply of essential
nutrients such as ammonium
sulphate or lime.
Inorganic Fertilizers
Advantages
 1. Nutrients are soluble and immediately available
to the plants; therefore the effect is usually
direct and fast.
 2. The price is lower and more competitive than
organic fertilizer, which makes it more
acceptable and often applied by users.
 3. They are quite high in nutrient content; only
relatively small amounts are required for crop
growth.
 Disadvantages
 1. Over-application can result in negative effects such as leaching, pollution
of water resources, destruction of microorganisms and friendly insects, crop
susceptibility to disease attack, acidification or alkalization of the soil or
reduction in soil fertility — thus causing irreparable damage to the overall
system.
 2. Oversupply of N leads to softening of plant tissue resulting in plants that
are more sensitive to diseases and pests.
 3. They reduce the colonization of plant roots with mycorrhizae and inhibit
symbiotic N fixation by rhizobia due to high N fertilization.
 4. They enhance the decomposition of soil OM, which leads to degradation
of soil structure.
 5. Nutrients are easily lost from soils through fixation, leaching or gas
emission and can lead to reduced fertilizer efficiency.
Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are fertilizers

that are naturally produced and
contain carbon. Fertilizers are
material that can be added to soil
in plants , in order to provide
nutrients and sustain growth.
Organic Fertilizers
Advantages
 1.The nutrient supply is more balanced, which helps
to keep plants healthy.
 2.
They enhance soil biological activity, which
improves nutrient mobilization from organic and
chemical sources and decomposition of toxic
substances.
 3.
They enhance the colonization of mycorrhizae,
which improves P supply.
 4.They enhance root growth due to better soil
structure.
Cont.
 5. They increase the organic matter content of the soil,
therefore improving the exchange capacity of nutrients,
increasing soil water retention, promoting soil aggregates and
buffering the soil against acidity, alkalinity, salinity, pesticides
and toxic heavy metals.
 6. They release nutrients slowly and contribute to the residual
pool of organic N and P in the soil, reducing N leaching loss and
P fixation; they can also supply micronutrients.
 7. They supply food and encourage the growth of beneficial
microorganisms and earthworms.
 8. They help to suppress certain plant diseases, soilborne
diseases and parasites.
Disadvantages
 1. They are comparatively low in nutrient content, so larger
volume is needed to provide enough nutrients for crop
growth.
 2.The nutrient release rate is too slow to meet crop
requirements in a short time, hence some nutrient deficiency
may occur.
 3. The major plant nutrients may not exist in organic fertilizer
in sufficient quantity to sustain maximum crop growth.
 4.The nutrient composition of compost is highly variable; the
cost is high compared to chemical fertilizers.